The send-off wasn’t what most of Florida State’s seniors had hoped for, but nevertheless, the accomplishments as a program that this year’s senior class helped with are many. With the regular season in the books and only the Independence Bowl to be played, we’ll be looking back on the careers of some prominent FSU seniors.
The outgoing senior class for the Seminoles was part of the first College Football Semifinal ever and helped FSU finish in the top 10 twice and play in three New Year’s Six bowls. Some departing seniors contributed each season while others had small parts in the grand scheme of things.
We now move from players who moved from one side of the ball to the other to a mainstay in the middle of the Florida State defensive line. Derrick Nnadi was a 3-year starter for the Seminoles and the team’s best defensive tackle over his final two seasons.
After earning first-team All-ACC honors from the coaches in 2016 and third-team honors from the media for recording 49 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and six sacks, Nnadi put together another All-ACC season as a senior. Nnadi finished the regular season with a career-high 51 tackles, including nine for loss and 3.5 sacks.
For his career, Nnadi recorded more than 160 tackles, more than 20 for loss and so far, 12 sacks. As the Virginia Beach native gets set to wrap up his career against Southern Mississippi in the Independence Bowl, we look back on the best moments in the defensive standout’s career:
5. First Career Sack
Sept. 18, 2015
Derrick Nnadi’s first career sack came in the third game on his sophomore year on a Friday night against Boston College. The sack came of Boston College quarterback Darius Wade midway through the second quarter as FSU pitched a 14-0 shutout. It was the only shutout for the Seminoles during Nnadi’s time in Tallahassee.
4. Big Game vs. Clemson
Oct. 29, 2016
Eventual national champion Clemson may have gotten the better of Florida State in 2016 in Tallahassee, 37-34, but it had nothing to do with Derrick Nnadi. The then junior earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for recording eight tackles, including two for loss and a sack.
3. Monster Night vs. Florida
Nov. 26, 2016
Derrick Nnadi’s final contest against Florida in Tallahassee was one to remember for the entire FSU defensive line as the Seminoles recorded six sacks and held rival Florida without a third down conversion in a 31-13 victory. Nnadi was a big part of that as he recorded a sack and his first career forced fumble. They came with FSU leading 24-13 midway through the fourth quarter. Nnadi stripped the ball from Florida quarterback Austin Appleby and DeMarcus Walker recovered for FSU at the Florida 26-yard-line. FSU quarterback Deondre Francois scored four plays later to put the game away.
2. Monster Day vs. Florida
Nov. 25, 2017
The lasting taste of the Florida-Florida State rivalry was a sweet one for Nnadi who finished his career 4-0 against the Gators with a 38-22 win in Gainesville. Nnadi finished with a career-high 1.5 sacks to lead an FSU defense that netted five sacks, forced four turnovers and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns. The win gave the Seminoles a new school-record fifth straight victory over Florida.
1. Nnadi Dominates Miami
Oct. 8, 2016
Something about playing in big games seemed to bring out the best in Derrick Nnadi. On the road against No. 10 Miami in 2016, Nnadi had arguably the best performance of his career in a thrilling 20-19 victory. Nnadi recorded seven total tackles, including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. The win gave FSU its seventh straight victory over Miami.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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